Closing arguments set in trial of man charged with Ame Deal's death

John Allen's trial in Ame Deal's footlocker death

John Allen sits in court Nov. 6, 2017. He is charged with first-degree felony murder, three counts of child abuse, and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse.
Carly Henry/The Republic

John Allen's trial in Ame Deal's footlocker death

John Allen in court on Nov. 6, 2017. Allen was Ame Deal's cousin's husband and told an officer that Ame and her siblings and cousins were playing hide-and-seek the night before, and in the morning they found her locked in a plastic box 31 inches long by 15½ inches wide by 13 inches deep.
Carly Henry/The Republic

John Allen's trial in Ame Deal's footlocker death

John Allen sits in court on Nov. 6, 2017. Sammantha Allen, John's wife, was sentenced to death in August for her part in Ame Deal's murder. Three other family members already are in prison for their roles in the case.
Carly Henry/The Republic

John Allen's trial in Ame Deal's footlocker death

John Allen sits in court on Nov. 6, 2017, while prosecutors show photos of the footlocker Ame Deal suffocated in.
Carly Henry/The Republic

John Allen's trial in Ame Deal's footlocker death

Forensic pathologist Dr. Philip Keen uses a body doll and a footlocker Nov. 6, 2017, to show how Ame Deal may have been placed in the footlocker she suffocated in.
Carly Henry/The Republic

John Allen sits in court on Nov. 6, 2017. Sammantha Allen, John's wife, was sentenced to death in August for her part in Ame Deal's murder. Three other family members already are in prison for their roles in the case.(Photo: Carly Henry/The Republic)

Closing arguments in the John Allen murder trial in the death of 10-year-old Ame Deal will begin Tuesday morning after both the prosecution and defense rested their cases on Monday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

Allen is charged with first-degree felony murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of conspiracy to commit child abuse in the death of the child, who authorities say was locked in a small box as punishment and left to suffocate to death overnight.

Three other family members also are in prison for their roles in the case. Judith Deal, Ame's grandmother, is serving a 10-year sentence for a child-abuse conviction. Cynthia Stoltzman, who was Ame's legal guardian and her aunt, is serving 24 years for child abuse in the case. Stoltzman's brother, David Deal, is serving 14 years for child abuse.

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Case of Phoenix girl who died in footlocker
Wochit

Ame was found dead in a locked plastic box on July 11, 2011.

The jury in John Allen's trial last week saw a videotape of a police interview with John Allen after the girl's death, in which he admitted that he locked Ame in the box as a punishment and then went to bed. When he woke up, she was dead, he said.

The prosecution spent Monday questioning forensic pathologist Dr. Philip Keen about the examination of Deal's body and why suffocation was ruled the cause of death.

After prosecutors decided to rest their case, Allen's defense attorney did not have any evidence or witnesses to present to the jury, resting their case as well.

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Ame Deal, a 10-year-old girl who died while stuffed inside a small footlocker, suffered a miserable life and horrific abuse at the hands of the adults who were entrusted with her care, police and court records say. Phoenix Police Department

Romley Avenue in Phoenix was home to Ame Deal, who was found dead in a footlocker on July 12, 2011. Police determined she was tortured and four suspects were arrested on July 27, 2011. Neighbors said that children were often seen out in the backyard until 2 a.m. Josh Radtke/The Republic

Ame Deal as a baby. The 10-year-old girl died while stuffed inside a small footlocker, suffered a miserable life and horrific abuse at the hands of the adults who were entrusted with her care, police and court records say. Deal family

Romley Avenue in Phoenix was home to Ame Deal, who was found dead in a footlocker on July 12, 2011. Police determined she was tortured and four suspects were arrested on July 27, 2011. Neighbors said that children were often seen out in the backyard until 2 a.m. Josh Radtke/The Republic

Romley Avenue in Phoenix was home to Ame Deal, who was found dead in a footlocker on July 12, 2011. Police determined she was tortured and four suspects were arrested on July 27, 2011. Neighbors said that children were often seen out in the backyard until 2 a.m. Josh Radtke/The Republic

Romley Ave. in Phoenix was home to Ame Deal, who was found dead in a footlocker on July 12, 2011. Police determined she was tortured and four suspects were arrested last night, July 27, 2011. Neighbors said that children were often seen out in the backyard until 2 a.m. Josh Radtke/The Republic

Romley Avenue in Phoenix was home to Ame Deal, who was found dead in a footlocker on July 12, 2011. Police determined she was tortured and four suspects were arrested July 27, 2011. Neighbors said that children were often seen out in the backyard until 2 a.m. Josh Radtke/The Republic

John Allen was sentenced to death in November 2017 for the brutal 2011 murder of 10-year-old Ame Deal. Allen was one of four family members charged with disciplining the girl by forcing her to do exercise in sweltering July heat and then locking her in a 31-inch-long footlocker overnight. Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Judith Deal, Ame Deal's grandmother, was sentenced in September 2013 to 10 years in prison and lifetime probation. Deal pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted child abuse. Maricopa County Sheriff's Department

Cynthia Stoltzmann, who was Ame Deal's aunt and legal guardian, was sentenced to 24 years in prison and lifetime probation by Judge Teresa Sanders in September 2013. Stoltzman pleaded guilty to two counts of child abuse and one count of attempted child abuse. Maricopa County Sheriff's Department